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What's on Your Travel Bucket List?

Oh, the world. It’s a big place. Filled with wonder and excitement, is there nothing better than dreaming about places you want to visit? I’m sitting at my desk in the studio (so happy to be back!) and naturally, I’m slacking off from boring things like tax and bills by thinking where I want to go next. Sitting here, I realised that I’ve been dreaming of a few places in particular in the last few years, and never have I shared with you what those places were. These are pretty much my ultimate bucket list right now, places that I would go to tomorrow if given the chance. Naturally there are so many places I want to go, many many more than just these three. But what stands out to me is that I dream about these places in a different way to other destinations I’d like to visit… You could say these bucket list day dreams are in Wes Anderson colours, sets and full frames. It’s weird I know but I can’t help it. Read on for my bucket list right now, and please do share yours with me. Maybe you’ll help give me some more ideas. 🙂

Marrakech, Morocco

Ever since we lived in London I’ve had a burning desire to visit Morocco. We had planned a trip to the city but instead went to Turkey (a glorious country you must also visit) because of the time of year. Naturally the main draw for me is the souks (you guys know how I love a market!!) but I’m also down with the food and the incredible Riads. Just everything really. For some reason visiting has always been difficult so it’s stayed on the top of my bucket list. Maybe this year? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

With major changes afoot as the United States lift an embargo that has been in place for over 50 years, naturally Cuba is way up high on my bucket list. It’s been at the top for maybe 5 years actually. I’m all about the architecture, music and…. rum! Lots of rum. Cuba’s colonial cities haven’t changed much in the last few centuries, and the beaches have pure white sand you’ll want to take home with you between your toes. My parents visited pre embargo lift and loved the country so much, although said the poverty and lack of infrastructure was really noticeable, so hopefully in the next few decades that will change. (Side bar: I told my brother I wanted to go before it changes too much and he said ‘yes, Geneva, because poverty is just so photogenic isn’t it?’ 😐 ) . The UNESCO listed city of Havana would be my first stop.

India India India. How you have come to dominate my mind when it comes to a holiday. Ben and I were meant to visit India for a long trip before on the way to moving to Hong Kong, but cut it short to just Sri Lanka because some people have to work around here (- Ben). I guess what India represents to me (in fact all three of the bucket list destinations) is that they require much more time investment, with intercity travel taking longer, meaning they’re not the type of places you can do quickly. It’s more immersive travel that really draws you in, buttttt takes time. I think to start, I’d love to just do Jaipur and a little bit of the Rajasthan region. All the colours!

Let us know your thoughts!

It is also ultimate dream to visit Morocco and India someday. Like you, I’m also fascinated with architecture and it is so amazing how much attention and time they put into when it comes to details and design. How I wish I can afford to go there and experience their culture. But I won’t stop dreaming, ’cause I believe that dreams do really come thru. Will work hard for it. ????????

You MUST visit Cuba, the whole country is magical. Exactly one month ago I was flying to Havana and I strongly recommend it. The city is amazing, people are so friendly, kind and welcoming. I hope to come back someday because I absolutly fell in love with Cuba. Trinidad is also a colonial city, well preserved and it’s really worth the visit.

Geneva Vanderzeil

Thanks so much for the recommendation! I saw pics of Cuba on your blog, so colourful. xx

Ugh you have no idea what it’s like to actually live in India and still not find time to see Jaipur and the rest. I’ve been there when I was a child and twice for work with no leisure time at all. I’m planning to visit soon!

I really didn’t like Morocco. I was so hyped about going there, but once I did… Being a very fair blonde I do look like tourist there – no denying that. So me and my boyfriend were just constantly surrounded by vendors (no one, literally no one would talk to me of course – which is understandable). After few days I just felt like I spent my entire holiday inside one of these TV shopping channels.
Cuba sounds great, though! I have been making plans that never happened for years now, haha. But two places I would love to see more than anything is French Polynesia (wherever there, really, it just looks so beautiful!!!) and one of the old Aztec temples 🙂

Natalie

I felt the same about Cuba. In my mind it was going to be an incredible, magical place but… it just wasn’t. It was pretty hard work, to be honest. A friend and I were in Havana for a few days and the city is dirty, the food is terrrrrrrible and abject poverty would seem like an understatement. My friend made a comment that it looked like a bomb had gone off and no one had bothered to clean up. That said, the people are friendly, it somehow feels exceptionally safe and yes, the rum is good.

Sometimes I think when you have no or low expectations for a place, that’s when you end up pleasantly surprised. I booked atrip to Japan simply because it was cheap and four years on, it’s still top of my list of great places I’ve been.

Some seriously fab spots there. I have a trip to Hong Kong in january to visit my friend who moved out there so will be going through all your travel tips for there, we’ll also be heading to the phillipines which will be ace. In November i’m in thailand, so any tips or guides for Thailand islands please let me know 🙂

Mel x
mediamarmalade.com

Geneva Vanderzeil

Sounds like you’ve got some incredible trips planned! Here are some Thailand tips:

We more or less have the same travel bucket list! I would love to visit all the cities you mentioned and I would love to go back to Argentina to make a big tour to the South, because I stayed in the North. Thailand must be amazing to visit and Iceland as well! Working a full time job, it´s very hard to find a moment to travel and discover new places, but I keep my hopes up!

I reallllllly want to go to Buenos Aires. Really really really really. I know what you mean, even ad someone who can travel and work it’s still hard finding time outside the studio where nothing needs to be done. x

I am sad to say that I have never set foot on the continents of Europe, Asia, or South America! I have so many places I cannot wait to see but Machu Picchu, Bangkok, Paris, London and Rome are at the very top right now! Although I just had a friend who went to Marrakech and absolutely loved it! Great list 🙂
xx Anniehttp://www.somethingswellblog.com/

I had an absolutely amazing time in Havana and I cannot recommend it enough! Morocco is one of the places that always evade me, whether its timing or availability or the fact that I can never get my butt in gear to sort out tourist visas. Jaipur is definitely on my bucket list too – that pink palace is the thing my travel dreams are made of. x

I absolutely love travelling. It gives me the thrills to discover foreign and unfamiliar places, people, culture and languages. It is honestly an eye opener and I am so grateful that we are able to travel so much, it’s such an eye openerhttp://www.theclosetopener.blogspot.com

my number one is a motorcycle ride down the old Route 66. Next (and the only trip I want out of the country) is Petra. I would love to see that ancient city!
Debbi

Geneva Vanderzeil

Amazing!

Maria

I highly recommend Inidia, especially if you have friends there. When we stayed in Delhi on our own – so many people were trying to take advantage of us by taking us to over-priced places, etc. But normally I stay with friends – and then it is incredible! Tge people of India you get to interact when you aren’t a tourist are amazing! So hospitable!

We have a one year old baby, so major trips are out of the question in the near future, but your blog keeps me inspired and hopeful! 🙂

Geneva Vanderzeil

Thanks for the tips Maria. I went to school in Sri Lanka when I was 12 for a year (mum and dad wanted us to experience how the rest of the world lived outside our Aussie bubble) and made lots of friends some of which went on to study in India so yep have a few friends there. Maybe Aishwarya Rai needs a new bestie? 🙂 Hope you enjoy new baby hood and enjoy it for all the new experiences, it’s a good time for some downtime and you can travel heaps once your bub is a bit older. xx

Hi!
Bucket lists are interesting! We’ve been to Cuba this winter and it was amazing!!!! The people were so kind and inviting!
Bucket list: Costa Rica, Ireland, The Netherlands, England, Fiji, Egypt, Mexico, and Cuba again… ?! Anywhere I can get my feet on land I’ll be happy. Travelling is the best education… And I wish I could travel most of the time and learn from the school of life with my husband and kids 🙂
Have fun planning your next trip Geneva!

Geneva Vanderzeil

I have totally heard that the people in Cuba make the whole experience. And the culture of dancing and music. A must!! Wow your list is great!

Courtney

Cuba is lovely! Don’t feel bad about wanting to go to Cuba before it changes, it seems that while it is poor, everyone has their medical and housing needs mostly taken care of, so it doesn’t feel uncomfortable to be there. Limitations on things like movement etc, but the people I know who grew up there had happy childhoods 🙂

Geneva Vanderzeil

Thanks so much Courtney, I guess there are mixed reports about the lives of the people but happiness and education/medical are really important indicators for how people live. My brother had just returned from a trip to Guatemala (as part of his MBA in New York) and I think it was a very real experience going there, but it’s completely different obvikously. Tourism will be a major business for Cuba in the future so I feel like it’s really worth going for help boost it. x

I just been in Cuba and it was great!!! You shoudl really go before all the Americans are coming. Everything will be more expensive and crowded.
On my travel list are Lisbon (maybe next Spring), Tel Avis (maybe in September when I am brave enought) and Costa Rica/Panama, hopefully next year. Oh and I’ve neven been to New York and need to change that asap!

These all look great, but I’m the kind of person who likes being close to home. I’d like to re-visit Berlin, but I’d also love to go to Paris, Spain and Portugal. Especially the coastal areas of Portugal, and the south of Spain. It’s been on my bucket list to see and maybe try to dance some Flamenco in Sevilla. Maybe that’ll happen, maybe it won’t. And also I’d like to explore more of Sweden, my home country!

Love your list! I went to India a few years ago for a friend’s wedding and then for a brief stay along the coast in Goa. It was not an easy trip (the poverty was a bit jarring and I got food poisoning twice) but that said, it was a trip that really touched my soul and I’ll never forget it. So much beauty there! Like how a woman’s colorful sari floated in the wind behind the scooter that her man was driving. Or the droves and droves of people waiting for their religious leaders just outside the airport. Surreal!

I’d love to visit Ireland and Scotland to go hiking. I’d also love to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain (or part of it) and see the Swiss Alps. I think it would also be great to go to Germany and go to one of those shelters that serves beer at the top of a mountain. Can you tell I like hiking?

The world is full of places I’d like to visit!
I love nature more than buildings, except for really old remnants.
First place on my bucketlist is definitly New Zealand. It’s very expensive to go there from where I live though. So I’d like to go for a whole month, to see as much as possible. Will have to save first!

Secondly I’d love to travel North and South America. I’d love to see Peru and Brazil.
Closer to home, I’d love to see Croatia and Sweden!

That’s a fantastic travel bucket list! Lucky me ’cause I have been to all three of the destinations and I can only recommend them! I would put Havana on the top of your list now that Americans will travel there like there’s no tomorrow. It’s beautiful! Havana is a little bit like Rome, an open air museum. And the whole island of Cuba has so many diverse sights, small towns, beautiful beaches and the friendliest people! Marrakech is beautiful! I went there by myself and that worked out alright though it sometimes is a bit of a hassle but as long as you say a firm no, they’ll all stay away. And the markets are to die for!!! For Jaipur and in general India I’d recommend traveling with a man or in a group. It’s a beautiful country and especially Jaipur (also Jodphur) is gorgeous but in terms of womens’ safety I feel it’s better if you don’t go by yourself.
Enjoy!!!
I’ll be ticking off Palau in October and then there’s still Brunei, Papua New Guinea and Samoa. And all the rest where I haven’t been yet 🙂

I would love to go to Nantucket! Ever since reading Nancy Thayer’s novels ‘Three Women at the Water’s Edge” and ‘Nantucket’ this island has been high on my list, but as my travel companion (and husband) hates ‘long flights’ ( i e anything over 4 hours…) due to his extremely long legs, I cannot see that happening very easily. However, I am surprised (and a bit miffed!) that my country Norway is not on your bucket list…..?????

Look at all that stunning pink! These are all places id love to visit, Marrakech in particular. This summer I’m travelling around Budapest, Prague and Kraków, I can’t wait
Laurenlivinginaboxx | bloglovin

I hope you visit Argentina sometime! I am sure you will love here!
Kisses from Buenos Aires

Pia Sodhi

You absolutely must visit India. Rajasthan is a city of rich culture, vibrant colours and you must try to plan a trip here. There are other places like Leh Ladakh, its absolutely breathtaking. Let me know if you need help in figuring out which places you would be interested in according to what you like. I stay in delhi so if you want a local’s advice let me know:) All the best.

Lu

Geneva, I hope you get to do India soon. Jaipur is glorious but you must put Udaipur and Jodhpur (known as the pink and blue city) as the top 2 followed by Jaipur. And then there’s the little French colony of Pondicherry in the south and you simply will love (because it’s a mad beautiful). Being Indian but always having lived outside (including Australia for 2 years where I’ve irrevocably left my heart), I took time out to travel and I guess rediscover my roots. Just thought I’d leave you a tip or two 🙂

Heading out to south east Asia soon and checking out your Saigon guide now ! :))